At a glance the quick version
Hill's gives males 28-33 lb and females 25-30 lb; Wikipedia gives 20-35 lb in proportion to height. The AKC standard sets no weight.
Coat and looks how to spot one
short smooth coat
A flat, short coat with a hard feel and a gentle sheen, lying close over tight-fitting skin. The body is muscular and compact, topped by the breed's trademark long, egg-shaped head with small triangular eyes and naturally upright ears.423
Personality what they are like
A cheerful, mischievous little dog with plenty of terrier courage. It is affectionate with its own people without being clingy, loves games, and learns best when training feels like play. It also makes an alert watchdog.346
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Energetic; around 20-40 minutes a day per Hill's, and up to an hour a day according to The Royal Kennel Club, ideally with play built in.35
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Very low-maintenance, wash-and-wear coat; a weekly brush-over is enough, though it does shed.53
Home where they are happiest
Adapts to town or country; a small to medium garden is plenty.5
Company who they like around
Loves being part of family life; early socialising and steady training help it stay easygoing around other dogs.23
The story where it all began
Bull Terriers were created in 19th-century England from Bulldog, white English Terrier and Dalmatian lines, and small examples were noted from the start. Breeders then selected the smallest dogs while keeping the classic head, and the miniature became its own variety in Britain in the 1940s. The size limit was later switched from weight to height, and the AKC admitted the breed in 1991.253
Fun facts for the dinner table
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 359, Group 3 (Terriers), Section 3 Bull type Terriers; provisional acceptance 5 July 2011, now recognised on a definitive basis.1
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Terrier group; recognised as a separate variety in 1943; listed as a vulnerable native breed. Hill's gives 1939 for recognition of the miniature in England.5
- AKC
- Terrier Group; admitted 1991 (effective 1 January 1992). Current standard approved 13 January 2026, effective 1 April 2026.4
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Miniature Bull Terrier. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery 3 weeks
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery day
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 10every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI nomenclature: Miniature Bull Terrier fci.beused for recognition
- Wikipedia: Miniature Bull Terrier en.wikipedia.orgused for history, weight, colours
- Hill's Pet: Miniature Bull Terrier hillspet.comused for weight, lifespan, temperament, facts
- AKC Official Standard of the Miniature Bull Terrier images.akc.orgused for height, coat, colours, temperament, recognition
- The Royal Kennel Club: Bull Terrier (Miniature) royalkennelclub.comused for exercise, grooming, history, status
- AKC breed page akc.orgused for nickname, temperament
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.